Federal Government has stated that forced displacement in Nigeria has transcended humanitarian emergencies to become a complex development, security, and governance challenge that requires integrated institutional responses.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2026 World Refugee Day, which also marked the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Akume, representing President Bola Tinubu, reiterated Nigeria’s dedication to international commitments despite immense pressure on national resources.

He commended the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for their collaboration.

The Federal Government also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons (IDPs), pledging to strengthen policies that promote their welfare, dignity and economic self-reliance in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Akume said the administration of President Bola Tinubu was integrating humanitarian interventions with long-term development strategies aimed at helping displaced persons rebuild their lives and become economically independent.

According to the SGF, Nigeria currently hosts more than 100,000 refugees and asylum seekers, largely from countries within the Lake Chad Basin, while millions of Nigerians remain internally displaced by insecurity and other humanitarian crises.

Meanwhile, the Justice, Development and Peace Caritas Initiative (JDPCI) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja has called on the global community and governments to prioritise the protection and dignity of displaced persons, noting that shared humanity must transcend geopolitical borders.

The Executive Director of JDPCI, Rev Father Sebastian Sanni, while delivering fraternal felicitations from the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Reverend Dr Ignatius Kaigama, stated that World Refugee Day serves as a stark reminder of the human lives disrupted by geopolitical volatility, emphasising that faith-based organisations and state actors must collaborate to provide holistic care for victims of war, violence, and natural disasters.

The cleric noted that the JDPCI has been actively supporting refugee communities within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), particularly displaced persons from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other neighbouring countries.

He explained that “Behind every refugee is a father, a brother, a sister, a mother, and a family deserving of love, protection, and respect.

Also, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) have renewed their commitment to protecting displaced persons, noting that 42 million refugees are currently registered globally.